June 20 • 2019 19
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ustomers will be pleased to know that the cutting-
edge apparel, footwear and equipment, and top-
notch service they’ve long enjoyed at The Tennis &
Golf Company are continuing under new ownership.
For 42 years, including 20 in Royal Oak, founder David
Schwartz “built a fine company with a reputation for
quality and service that spread far beyond the local area,”
said customer Steve Gold of Huntington Woods.
Schwartz sold his spacious 18,000-square-foot store
to experienced sporting-goods retailers Steve Kopitz and
Andy Schepper. The partners started on May 1, pledging
to improve upon the best aspects of The Tennis & Golf
Company.
“This location is the largest specialty tennis shop in the
Midwest and one of the top five in the country,” Kopitz
said. For 25 years he owned Summit Sports, with several
area locations, including Don Thomas Sporthaus, in
Birmingham.
Kopitz, after selling his company, retired in 2016 and
was living part-time in Naples, Fla., when presented with
the opportunity to purchase The Tennis & Golf Company.
“I wasn’t looking to get into another business, but I
couldn’t see letting it go,” he said.
Schepper, the CEO of The Tennis & Golf Company,
worked with Kopitz at Summit Sports for more than
20 years. Given his expertise in e-commerce, Schepper
is building Tennis & Golf’s first internet business. The
website tennisracquets.com will launch later this year.
Schepper is on premises at the store while Kopitz plans to
work in more of a “strategic capacity.”
Red letters spell out the Tennis & Golf name on the
building on the west side of Woodward between 12 and
13 Mile roads. The extra-large store features a “shop
within a shop” feel with knowledgeable, experienced
sales staff in every department.
A unique feature of the store is the 20’ x 70’ “hitting
lane,” where a ball machine shoots tennis balls from the
far wall. With “Demo Racquets” for virtually every model
sold, customers can try out any racquet they like. “Why
would you buy a racquet without trying it first?” Kopitz
asked. “Your body will tell you which one is right.”
With the largest selection of tennis racquets in the
Midwest, customers can choose from brands including
Wilson, Head, Babolat and Volkl. Trained staff will fit
customers with the right grip and recommend the best
strings and tension for their style of play. The Tennis &
Golf Company can also service players of racquetball,
badminton, squash and the increasingly popular
pickleball.
Racquets are custom-strung the same day, and often
while customers wait. This time of year, with 50-100
requests daily, “our five stringing machines go non-stop,”
Kopitz said.
Sports lifestyle merchandise, with a focus on tennis
and golf attire, arrives daily at the store, which has a
longstanding reputation for stocking hot, niche brands.
It continues to offer the best in that category as well as
introducing new manufacturers. In menswear, look for
names like Travis Matthew, Mizzen+Main, Devereux,
Polo RLX and Chase 54. Popular national brands are
also available, including Nike, Puma, Adidas and Under
Armour.
Fashion companies catering to women include Polo
Golf, Daily Sports, Lucky in Love, GG Blue, Nivo, Bolle
and Belyn Key — to name a few. Oliver Thomas makes a
line of lightweight, stylish quilted bags. A large collection
of sport bras is displayed near the six women’s dressing
rooms.
The Kids selection includes junior racquets, shoes,
apparel and golf equipment. Adidas, Puma, Nike and Fila
are some of the clothing brands for boys and girls.
More than 150 models of athletic shoes for all ages are
stocked. The shoes for tennis, running and golf include
such brands as Adidas, Nike, Footjoy, New Balance and
Wilson. Featured designer brand sunglasses include Maui
Jim and Oakley.
With all the new merchandise arriving daily, customers
will find discounts of 50 percent or more
in the store’s clearance room of still-fresh brand
name designer items.
“Every Day is a Sale” at The Tennis & Golf Company,
and store members save even more on their purchases.
Members get up to 25 percent off everyday prices, plus
exclusive monthly specials and a $20 birthday credit. A
one-year membership costs $39.
The Tennis & Golf Company offers Sunday hours and
stays open later during the week. Shop Monday-Thursday,
10-8; Friday, 10-5; Saturday, 9-5; and Sunday, 11-5.
Tennis & Golf Company
30211 Woodward
Royal Oak, MI 48073
(248) 435-6800
mytennisandgolf.com
Esther Allweiss Ingber | Contributing Writer
Photos by Derrick Martinez
— ADVERTORIAL —
Tennis & Golf Company partners
Steve Kopitz and Andy Schepper
Serving Up Top-Notch Services
Pro-Shop services
The Tennis & Golf Company offers a vareity of sportswear.